Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 November, the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) called on Ukraine (whose relations with the EU are currently strained due to the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko) to step up its fight against corruption and make the funding of political parties more transparent. In its third report on this country, GRECO stated that “determined action in the area of political financing was clearly required in order to foster citizens' trust in Ukraine's democratic system, its politicians and political parties. Parties and election candidates could become dependent on powerful business or shadow financing as they rely entirely on private funding”. GRECO considers that despite some progress being made (new legislation on the general funding of political parties is planned for the middle of 2013), the scope of application for these provisions on corruption in the public sector still needs to be extended and improvements are needed with regard to tackling bribery in the private sector and trading in influence. (SP/transl.fl)